The atmospheric carbon left over from nuclear bomb testing could help scientists track poached ivory, new research has found. These bomb tests changed the level of carbon in the atmosphere, which can be traced to date elephant tusks.

Scientists have shown it is possible to retrieve human DNA from the carcasses of dead animals in quantities that can identify the perpetrator. Potentially the technique could be used in other countries to identify rhinoceros or elephant poachers.

DNA analysis will now be used to solve the most widely perpetrated crimes today - those against the ecology. Biologists are now taking the DNA route to track the effects of global warming on the world's species or for identifying a piece of dried meat